More businesses join city wide gift card scheme

Hereford’s oldest department store, a brand new business selling house plants, and a continental bar are three of the Hereford businesses celebrating the launch of a new city wide gift card programme.

The Hereford Gift Card is a local gift card that can be spent with over 100 businesses across the city, and is the first scheme of its kind in Herefordshire. 

Established in Hereford in 1845, family run department store Philip Morris is one of the businesses that will accept the new Hereford Gift Card.

Managing partner John Jones runs the Widemarsh Street shop with his brother Bruce: “175 years since we opened Philip Morris as an ironmongers, and we are proud to be one of Hereford’s oldest businesses. Online is a large part of our business and we were able to move many staff into online operations during the retail closures, but we remain fully committed to the high street; it is who we are and what we do. The signs of recovery in Hereford are very encouraging, particularly in comparison to other cities, and with the Hereford Gift Card, we can build on that.

“It makes total sense for us to have our own gift card in Hereford. Anything that encourages people to think local and shop local is to be encouraged. Philip Morris has its own gift card but the Hereford Gift Card is universal to the city and has wider appeal. I’m a great believer in what can be achieved if we work together. By collaborating, we can create a better experience for customers and flourish collectively. It makes a massive difference when people shop locally. If all the money that used to be spent outside of Hereford was spent in the city, it would transform Hereford.” 

Hereford Gift cards can be purchased from £5 to £500, and spent like a debit card with several Hereford businesses.

Mike Truelove, Chief Executive of Hereford BID said: “Hereford is leading the way in the county by introducing its own gift card. It reinforces Hereford as a brand, and as an appealing city that people want to visit. Retail footfall is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, the Hereford Gift Card gives our city an extra layer of support, particularly as we approach the Christmas period.”

Colin Munro is the Managing Director of Miconex: “A cathedral city with great shopping, dining and leisure, the Hereford Gift Card has the potential to be hugely successful. There are around 30,000 households in Hereford. If every household bought, or was gifted, a £10 Hereford Gift Card, that would be £300,000 going into the Hereford economy, supporting local businesses, local people and local jobs.”

The Hereford Gift Card is a prepaid Mastercard and is available to buy now, online or the Tourist Information Centre on St Owen Street.